Step-ladder.



. CRAIG.

STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.24, 19w.

Patented Apr 18, .1916.

wviwmow 'I I-II: COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

HUGH M. CRAIG, OF NEWARK, OHIO, ASSIGNOR 0F THREE-FIFTHS T0 CLARA E. CRAIG,

. 0F NEWARK, OHIO.

STEP-LADDER.

Application filed August 24, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH M. CRAIG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Licking and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to. step ladders and the principal object of the invention is the provision of a ladder wherein the weight applied to each step is equally distributed between all of the supporting legs and fur ther in the provision of a ladder which may be conveniently folded into compact form.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the following specific description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this application, and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is av detail vertical sectional view showing the legs and steps in folded position.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 represents a pair of step supporting members, 2 a pair of prop legs and 3 a connecting head, as shown. The step supporting members 1 are connected together at their upper ends by a bracket 4 provided with a vertical. extension 5 which enters the slot (5 in the head 3 and is joined to said head by a pivot bolt 7. The upper ends of the legs 2 also extend into slots 8 and are connected by pivot bolts 9. Depending from the center of the head is a hanger to which is hinged the braces 10 arranged in parallelism and having hinged yokes 11. These step supporting yokes carry the steps 12 which are hingedly connected to rung members 13 extending between the step sup porting members 1. As shown, the yoke members have a notch or offset portion l l adjacent their forward ends which is engaged by the lower end or eye 15 of a diagonal brace 16 which extends between one yoke member and the next adjacent upper yoke member where it is pivoted upon the relative horizontal portion of said yoke member. When the brace members 10 are lowered, the steps 12 will be placed in horizontal position and the eye portion 15 of topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 118, 1916. Serial No. 47,113.

the brace 16 will slide along the side stretch of the yoke members 11 and engage in the notch and thereby prevent the brace members 10 from being raised when any weight is applied to the forward edge of the step 12 which. is beyond the rung member 13. By releasing the braces from the notches all of the steps may be folded to substantially vertical position with the brace members 10 lying flat against their rear sides.

As shown, I preferably provide a pair of supporting feet 17 on the lower end of the members 10 so that in case there is any breakage of the hanger, the member 10 cannot drop a great distance, thereby avoiding accident. It will also be noted that when the weight of the person using the ladder is applied directly to the center of the steps, that this weight will be supported upon the hanger and thereby distributed equal upon the members 1 and 2. The prop legs 2 can be held in separated relation in any suitable manner or held against separation in any suitable manner.

What is claimed is 1. In a step ladder, a connecting head, rung supporting members connected thereto, prop legs connected to the head, a hanger carried by the head, step supporting members connected to the hanger, steps interconnecting the rung supporting members and step supporting members and hinged to both, and diagonal braces arranged between the steps and slidably connected to a part of one of them.

2. A step ladder comprising a pair of supporting members having rungs, a pair of prop legs, a head connecting the supporting members and prop legs, a hanger, folding supports connected to the hanger, yoke members connected to the supports, steps connected to the yoke members and hinged to the rungs, and braces between the steps, said braces being pivoted at one end and slidably mounted at the opposite end.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HUGH M. CRAIG. WVitnesses G. W. BOURNE, Josnrrr RENZ.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

